Apparatus for fastening elastic tapes to rigid frames



Oct. 10, 1961 P. REGGIANI 3,003,161

APPARATUS FOR FASTENING ELASTIC TAPES TO RIGID FRAMES Original Filed Oct. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F G 3 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

v PIO REGGIANI BY WVZQJ ATTORNEYS- P. REGGIANI Oct. 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 10, 1955 FIG.6

FIG. IO

INVENTOR. PIO REGGIANI ATTORNEYS nited States 3,003,161 7 APPARATUS FOR FASTENING ELASTIC T-APES TO RIGID FRAMES Pio Reggiani, Viale Argonne 38, Milan, Italy Original application Oct. 10, 1955, Ser. 'No. 539,545, now Patent No. 2,922,170, dated Jan. 26,1960. Divided and this application Apr. 7,1958,=Ser. No. 726,743 Claims priority, application Italy Oct. 15, 1954 Claims. (Cl; -194) This invention pertains to means for fastening elastic tapes to rigid frames across which the tapes are stretched when in fastened condition; and more particularly has reference to structures (rigidiframe-tape units) used in the construction of furniture, erg. chairs settees, beds and the like, wherein the tapes of the structure provide a resilient support for a cushiongmattress, padding or other upholstery material. The term upholstery, as here used, will be understood to include a loose cushion or mattress, simply resting on or against the tapes 'of the structure (frame-tape unit). However, the invention is not limited to structures of thefurniture art, butis of broad scope, both as regards the component materials of the rigid frames and tapes, as wellas, 'the'number, width and arrangement of the tapes in reference to'their frames.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 539,545, "filed October 10, 1955, now Patent No. 2,922,170, issued January 26, 1960, and covers the fourth (form D) of the four general forms A, B, C and D of my invention, mentioned on-page 5 of that application. The form of invention herein disclosed (identified as form D) is particularly applicable to rigid frames comprised of metal members of either completely or incompletely closed cross-sections;

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1-4 respectively, illustrate four diiferent, alternative forms of anchorage plates used in the herein disclosed embodiment of my invention.

FIGURES 5-12 respectively, show respectively, siX different alternative forms of frame members, which are of either completely or incompletely closed cross-sections. In FIGURES 5-8, the frame member is of substantially closed cross-section; in FIGURE 9, the frame member is of completely closed cross-section; and in FIGURES 10, l1 and 12, the frame member is of open cross-section.

In the construction illustrated in FIGURE 5, the anchorage plate consists of a flat, rigid metal plate I, having a plurality of fingers 2, which project from the front edge of the plate and engage in preformed holes in an end portion of the tape 3. The frame member 4 is of triangular cross-section with its inner side 5 bent inwardly to form an inturned flange 6 which parallels the bottom flange of member 4. As shown, the flange 6 is spaced a short distance from the bottom wall of the frame member 4 and forms a slot 7 for the reception of the tail portion of the anchorage plate 1, whose fingers 2, project from the frame member 4 through the tape 3, in the manner clearly illustrated in the figure. Under the pull in the tape 3 the anchorage plate 1 is held firmly in this position, with its rear edge abutting the inner surface of the frame member 4-.

In the construction illustrated in FIGURE 6, the frame member 4 is of substantially circular section with a slot 8 through which the anchorage plate 1 extends to a position in which its rear edge is in firm abutment against the internal surface of the frame member 4, being held there, with consequent firm holding of the anchorage plate 1 as a whole, against dislodgement relatively to the frame member 4, by the pull of the tape 3, transmitted to the plate through the fingers 2.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a construction in which the frame ice member 4 is of rectangular section, the construction otherwise being similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 5, except that in FIGURE 7, the anchorage plate 1 has pointed spikes 2a, in lieu of fingers 2 of the plate 1 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a construction identical with the construction of FIGURE 5, except that there is no inturned flange 6, the construction in this respect being similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 6, and the anchorage plate 1, which abuts along its rear edge the rear wall of the member 4, is of the spiked form shown in FIGURE 7.

The construction illustrated in FIGURE 9 is similar to that of FIGURE 6, except that the anchorage plates 1 are inserted through separate slots 9 formed in the frame member 4.

In the construction illustrated in FIGURE 10 the anchorage plate 10 incorporates lugs 11 which are bent back in the manner shown in FIGURE 1 and hook over the free edge of the lower flange 12 of the frame member 4, being firmly held in this position along with the tape 3 by the pull of the latter transmitted through the fingers 2.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a construction similar to FIGURE 10, with a slightly different form of anchorage plate as regards the manner in which its lugs are provided. In FIGURE 1, the lugs 11 are bent back as already remarked, whereas in FIGURE 2, they are formed by in cising the rear margin of the plate 10 by a succession of spaced cuts 13 and bending alternate sections 14 of the plate between the cuts into respectively diiferent planes in the manner clearly shown in the FIGURE 2, so providing (as in the construction shown in FIGURE 11), a socket for the reception of the free edge of the lower flange 12 of the frame member 4.

The construction illustrated in FIGURE 12 is generally similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 11, except that, in place of fingers 2 for engaging the tape 3, the anchorage plate 10 is formed near its outer margin with a slot i5 through which the end of the tape 3 is threaded, with the threaded-through portion of the tape end sandwiched in between the under side of the anchorage plate 10 and the portion of the tape end in rear of the threaded-through portion.

The anchorage plate 16 illustrated in FIGURE 4 is similar to the anchorage plates 10 of FIGURES 2 and 3, except that it is formed with spikes 2a for engagement with the tape in place of the fingers 2 (FIGURE 2) or a slot 15 (FIGURE 3).

It will, of course, be understood that any of the four forms of anchorage plates shown in FIGURES 1-4 may be used alternatively with any of the constructions shown in FIGURES 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 or 12; the choice of plate depending, for example, upon the type of tape used, whether this be plain (non-reinforced) tape, or tape reinforced with a textile or like insertion. It may also be remarked that the cross-sectional form of the frame member 4 may be any of the forms shown in FIGURES 5-12, consistent with the general object of the invention; although it will generally be preferable to employ a form which is either rounded in a general sense (e.g. circular) or rounded at the corners around which the tape end is wrapped in the fastened condition of the tape. Further, the frame members and the anchorage plates, may be composed of any suitable material, it being generally preferred to employ hardened steel for the anchorage plates so as to avoid bending of the plates under the pull of the tapes.

While I have described and illustrated five embodiments of the general form of my invention herein disclosed, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the precise details of construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration, as these may be changed and modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for detachably fastening a length of flat, elastic tape to a rigid frame across which said tape is tautly stretched and anchored at one end to a member of said frame and at its other end to an opposite member of said frame, each said member being of tubelike cross-section, having a pair of parallel, spaced flanges approximated to form a recessed slot of a depth substantially greater than the space between said flanges, and extending lengthwise throughout the length of said member; said means comprising a rigid flat anchorage plate having adjacent one edge thereof at least one integral projecting element which engages said tape, with said tape lying in contact with a portion of said frame member around which the adjacent end portion of said tape is partially wrapped; said plate having an integral tail portion which extends through said slot into said member and, under the pull of said tape, is held in firm engagement with said member.

2. Fastening means according to claim 1, wherein one of said flanges, extends inwardly of said member from one of the edges of said slot, and parallel to the adjacent portion of said other flange; the tail portion of said plate fitting snugly between said flanges.

3. Fastening means according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of said member is of generally polygonal configuration.

4. Means for detachably fastening a length of flat elastic tape to a rigid frame across which said tape is tautly stretched and anchored at one end to a member of said frame, and at its other end to an opposite member of said frame, each said member being of tubelike cross-section with two substantially parallel spaced flanges approximated to form a recessed slot having a depth substantially greater than the space between said flanges and extending lengthwise throughout the length of said member; said means comprising means for detachably anchoring at least one end of said tape to its supporting frame member, including: a rigid, flat anchorage plate having adjacent one edge thereof at least one element which projects beyond the edge of said plate and engages the tape against its movement relatively to said plate; said plate having a tail portion, opposite said element, which engages said flanges, opposite the portion of said frame member at which said tape is tangential to said member, so as to secure said plate to its supporting frame member against dislodgement under the pull of the tape.

5. Fastening means according to claim 4, wherein the said element comprises integral fingers which project from the edge of said plate and extend through preformed holes provided in the tape end to receive them.

6. Fastening means according to claim 4, wherein the said element comprises integral, sharp-pointed spikes which project from the edge of said plate and are forced through the thickness of the tape, in the operation of securing the latter to said frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,111 Naysmith Apr. 17, 1906 889,007 Holden May 26, 1908 2,444,873 Goldberg July 6, 1948 2,546,050 Weaver Mar. 20, 1951 2,582,579 Bedford Jan. 15, 1952 2,622,663 Burd Dec. 23, 1952 2,649,636 Freysinger Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,267 Great Britain Nov. 19, 1903 

